عَـٰلِمِ ٱلْغَيْبِ وَٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِ فَتَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ 92
Translations
[He is] Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, so high is He above what they associate [with Him].
Transliteration
Alim al-ghayb wa ash-shahādah fa ta'ālā 'ammā yushrikūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah is the Knower of both the unseen (ghayb) and the seen (shahādah)—all that is hidden from creation and all that is manifest. By establishing Allah's complete knowledge, the ayah then declares His transcendence and exaltation far above the shirk (polytheism and associating partners) that the disbelievers commit. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this serves as a powerful refutation of idolatry, as the Almighty's infinite knowledge and supremacy render impossible any legitimacy in associating partners with Him.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Mu'minun, a Meccan surah that addresses the fundamental beliefs of Islamic monotheism during the early Meccan period when polytheism was widespread. The ayah fits within the surah's broader theme of refuting shirk and establishing the oneness of Allah (tawhīd), particularly in response to the pagan Arabs' worship of idols and their claims about these deities.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Muslim wherein the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The greatest sin is to associate partners with Allah (shirk) while He created you' relates thematically to this ayah's condemnation of shirk. Additionally, Sahih Bukhari records the Prophet's statement about Allah's knowledge encompassing all things: 'His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that recognizing Allah's complete knowledge of all hidden and manifest realities should strengthen conviction in His oneness and protection from polytheistic beliefs. For modern Muslims, it serves as a reminder that our private thoughts and public actions are known to the All-Knowing, fostering both accountability and trust in divine wisdom.
Related Ayahs
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلْحَقُّ وَأَنَّ مَا يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦ هُوَ ٱلْبَـٰطِلُ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْكَبِيرُ
That is because Allāh is the True Reality, and that which they call upon other than Him is falsehood, and because Allāh is the Most High, the Grand.
قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَدْعُوا۟ رَبِّى وَلَآ أُشْرِكُ بِهِۦٓ أَحَدًا
Say, [O Muḥammad], "I only invoke my Lord and do not associate with Him anyone."
وَلَا تَدْعُ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا يَنفَعُكَ وَلَا يَضُرُّكَ ۖ فَإِن فَعَلْتَ فَإِنَّكَ إِذًا مِّنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
And do not invoke besides Allāh that which neither benefits you nor harms you, for if you did, then indeed you would be of the wrongdoers.'"
فَٱعْلَمْ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ وَٱسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنۢبِكَ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مُتَقَلَّبَكُمْ وَمَثْوَىٰكُمْ
So know, [O Muḥammad], that there is no deity except Allāh and ask forgiveness for your sin and for the believing men and believing women. And Allāh knows of your movement and your resting place.